With congested air travel and over-priced tickets running rampant during this recession, many feel that the best long-term solution to the problem is to implement high-speed rail systems throughout America. President Obama has said that he hopes to be able to provide high-speed rail to 80% of Americans by 2035. Many feel, however, that this deadline is too far away.

Thursday, China introduced its first high-speed rail system that will link the cities of Shanghai and Beijing. The track will cost more than $33 billion and will attempt to relieve the congested travel conditions by offering cheaper fares – train tickets are as little as $67, whereas plane tickets cost on average $138.

This is the same type of solution many high-profile politicians have supported, including New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, former Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, and U.S. House Transportation Committee Chair John Mica (R-FL). These and others would like to see a similar system utilized in the Northeast corridor of the United States. The Northeast corridor is “one of the most valuable and potentially
productive federal assets in the United States,” said Mica. He noted that “the Boston - DC corridor is home to 20% of the nation’s population.” He agrees that this issue is being addressed too slowly.

Bloomberg addressed concerns over high-speed rail, which were echoed by many politicians throughout the nation. “I understand the politics. Everybody in this country wants to pull together, everybody contributes, and everybody wants to get the benefits,” Bloomberg said. “But in some cases the benefits are going to be in one part of the country and then spill over to the others. Other endeavors, like the interstate highway system, and building airports – every city can share in that. But high-speed rail really only fits for certain parts of the country. But it’s something that’s good for all of us.” This is an area of the country that needs a reduction in air travel more than any other region. According to Mica, “This is the nation’s most congested corridor, on land and in the air, and 70% of our chronically delayed air flights in the country — 70%, get this– start right here in the New York airspace.”